In a renewed diplomatic effort by the United States to revive a stalled ceasefire plan in Gaza, Jared Kushner, senior advisor and son-in-law to Donald Trump, engaged in talks with Khalil al-Hayya, the political leader of Hamas, in Egypt on Sunday. This meeting occurred just a day before Kushner’s scheduled discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has recently dismissed a U.S.-endorsed 15-point roadmap designed to advance the ceasefire. The proposed plan outlines a gradual disarmament of Hamas, a suspension of Israeli military actions, and a partial withdrawal from Gaza, alongside reconstruction efforts and the deployment of international forces to ensure security.
Hamas has expressed its commitment to the roadmap, but with conditions: they demand Israel halt its attacks and retreat to a previously agreed demarcation, known as the “yellow line,” prior to the plan’s initiation. Furthermore, Hamas ties the relinquishment of its heavier weaponry to progress towards establishing a Palestinian state, a notion opposed by Netanyahu’s administration. Conversely, Netanyahu maintains that a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza is contingent upon the complete disarmament of Hamas, a point of contention that has hindered significant progress in the ceasefire agreement, including reconstruction and international force deployment.
The meeting between Kushner and Hamas was attended by officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, aimed at securing Hamas’s agreement to the plan, specifically on the disarmament issue, before Kushner’s engagement with Netanyahu. In addition to Netanyahu, Kushner is expected to meet with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov, the director of the Board of Peace. This diplomatic initiative coincides with Netanyahu facing political pressure ahead of Israel’s October elections, with his coalition comprising ministers advocating for a stricter stance on Gaza, casting uncertainty on the ceasefire plan’s future.
Several countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia, have openly criticized Israel’s rejection of the U.S.-backed roadmap and have urged swift action to prevent further delays. As international attention focuses on the ongoing tensions, these nations are calling for immediate steps to move forward, highlighting the fragility of the current situation and the urgency for diplomatic resolution.